Saxophonist, Composer Berta Moreno

“With a great personality, Moreno knows how to extract from her tenor sax a dark and yet warm sound, totally rooted in the jazz tradition but with a modern, energetic and optimistic discourse that produces fresh and evocative melodies with doses of spontaneity and captivating rhythms .”Chevy Martínez – Owner/Programmer of Jimmy Glass Jazz Club (Valencia, Spain)http://bit.ly/2jCcNKJ

Berta Moreno was born in Madrid, Spain. She began her music studies at an early age, first on guitar and later she got a degree in classical clarinet at the Conservatory of Madrid. During this time she had also obtained a degree in Music teaching and a degree in Psychology & Pedagogy for Education at the University.

After her classical training, she decided to devote herself to Jazz and play the saxophone, which had become her main and only passion ever since. Awarded with the AIE scholarship in 2008 and 2009 she studied with the best jazz musicians in Spain (Perico Sambeat, Bob Sands, Juanma Barroso among others).

In 2010 Berta moved to Rotterdam (The Netherlands) where she obtained a bachelor degree in Jazz Saxophone at “Codarts, University for the Performing Arts,” being awarded the VBD stitching scholarship in 2014.

During her time in The Netherlands, she won the 1st prize in Zoetermeer Jazz Competition 2013 with her quartet “Kind of Brown,” and took the 2nd place as a soloist in the Leiden Jazz Competition 2013 in the Audience Prize nomination.​

Berta has also performed in some of the leading jazz festivals around Europe, including NORTH SEA JAZZ Festival, North Sea Roundtown, Sfeer Haven Jazz, JazzBoz, Zondag Zommer Festival, Zoetermeer Jazz. Some of the main venues and theaters: Clamores Jazz Club, Bogui Jazz Club, Jimmy Glass, De Doelen Concertgebouw, Lanteren Venster, Ro Theater, Bird Rotterdam. Participated in TV and Radio programs, such as Omroep Zuidplas Radio, Virus 4 TV/radio program. And appeared on several CD’s: “Síguelo” by Gerardo Rosales & Combo Mundial (Challenge Records), “Choros Limoneros” by Choros Limoneros (Thrilling Sound Productions).

After moving to New York in 2014, she has been awarded the prestigious 2015 BMI Evelyn Buckstein Scholarship as well as The Sidney Zoloft Award for Excellence in Music in 2016 after she graduated Summa Cum Laude from The City College of New York.

In her brief time in New York, Berta released her debut album “Little Steps” featuring GRAMMY Award winners and nominees Steve Wilson (sax), Troy Roberts (sax) and Manuel Valera (piano); playing with this project in venues such as Fat Cat, ShapeShifter Lab, Club Bonafide… in New York, as well as touring in Europe “holding out” in legendary clubs like Bogui Jazz, Clamores or Jimmy Glass in Spain. At the same time, she is playing with many different bands and projects in the City, and working as well as a Teaching Artist for the GRAMMY winner Arturo O’Farrill “Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance.”

A graduate of Empire State College with a dual major in journalism and Latin American studies, Tomas Peña has spent years applying his knowledge and writing skills to the promotion of great musicians. A specialist in the crossroads between jazz and Latin music, Peña has written extensively on the subject.